Results 1,641-1,660 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Seanad: WTO Negotiations: Statements. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, and her officials. I am satisfied and supportive of the position that she laid out in her speech. Before coming to sugar and the WTO, I compliment her and her Department on the efficient issue of the single farm payments a few days ago. That means, although this has not been much commented on, that farmers will have a good year this year, and will...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: That was Deputy Noonan's cliché year in, year out in the Dáil.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: There will be.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: There is a heaven of a lot in this budget and as Government finance spokesperson in the Seanad, I am proud to speak on it. This budget has few downsides, as it contains no indirect taxation increases and includes some tax cuts. I suspect part of the motive for these cuts was to eliminate smuggling on the Border and build a single energy market on the island, a project on which the Leader...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Child benefit has increased to €150 per month for first and second children and €185 per month for subsequent children, a significant improvement on the 1997 figures of £30 and £39, respectively. The budget also provides for a special payment for children aged under six years. Increases in paid and unpaid maternity leave mean women may take practically a year off work following the...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Anyone who is barely in the higher band will only pay the top rate on a tiny amount of income. The Senator should consider his logic.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I am glad we did not hear anything about stealth taxes because if one measures the expansion of the standard rate band from this budget back to 2002, one finds it is fully in line with the rate of inflation. It is prudent that Governments maintain a certain degree of flexibility to increase bands above or below the rate of inflation, depending on the circumstances. A marked feature of the...

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: I think it is a cheque.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Quite.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: No, it was not. There was 10% growth in 2000.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: That is statistical juggling.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Almost all of them are in our favour.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Multi-annual social welfare payment comparisons perhaps.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: They served their purpose.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: We concentrated on the lower paid.

Seanad: Budget Statement 2005: Motion. (7 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Good environmental practice.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: On the morrow of a successful budget, I would very much welcome a debate on equality issues. It would have been nice had there been recognition of what the budget did to promote equality through tax concessions benefiting those on the minimum wage and the average industrial wage, together with the record social welfare package and the closure of tax breaks for the——

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Regarding what Senator Brian Hayes had to say, after nine years child benefit has gone up from €39 a month for third and subsequent children to €150.

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Dec 2005)

Martin Mansergh: Of course, one cannot solve all the problems, and there will be further work for future years. However, a very solid basis has been laid.